Abstract: Interest in nanotechnology is driven by unprecedented means to tailor physical behavior via structure and composition. Most properties, including optical, catalytic, and electronic, can be fine-tuned through choice of composition, size, and shape of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles of free-electron metals, typically gold and silver, can in fact concentrate light via a phenomenon called localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). LSP Rs provide an attractive platform for enhanced photon absorption and scattering (far-field effects) at their (size, shape, and composition-dependent) resonance frequency, while concurrently generating a strong electric field close to the NP’s surface (near-field effects).

This talk will first discuss the fundamental science and established applications of LSP Rs , including refractive index sensing and surface-enhanced spectroscopies. Then, it will address opportunities related to earth-abundant metals that provide cheap, sustainable alternatives to silver and gold. These include aluminum for UV applications and the very recently discovered nanostructured magnesium for enhanced light-matter interactions in the visible range. Together with the well-known noble metal structures, these new metals offer opportunities to harvest and manipulate light at the nanoscale to probe the world around us as well as drive chemical reactions.